Staying true to one's goals: IAS Abhilasha Abhinav’s success mantra for UPSC

The UPSC Civil Services Exam, one of India's most challenging tests, witnesses millions of aspirants striving to become IRS, IPS, and IAS officers. 

As aspirants gear up to conquer the challenging UPSC Civil Services Exam, they often find motivation and guidance in the success stories of those who have triumphed before them. 

Among the inspirational success stories is that of Abhilasha Abhinav, an IAS officer from the Telangana cadre who secured an All India Rank (AIR) 18 in the 2017 examination.

According to a News18 report, Abhilasha who hails from Patna faced numerous challenges on her journey to becoming an IAS officer. Her most significant obstacle was convincing her family to prioritise clearing the Civil Services Exam before marriage. Despite excelling academically and in sports during her schooling in Patna, Abhilasha chose to pursue B.Tech at A.S. College, Maharashtra.

After obtaining an impressive 84 per cent in the 12th grade, Abhilasha took up a job but continued working while preparing for the UPSC exams. Her first attempt in 2014 ended without clearing the Prelims, prompting her to focus on rigorous preparation rather than attempting the exam the following year.

In her second attempt in 2016, Abhilasha secured a rank of 308, earning her a place in the IRS service. Unsatisfied with this, she aimed higher and, in her UPSC 2017 attempt, clinched the 18th rank, realizing her dream of becoming an IAS officer.

Addressing the challenge of preparing for UPSC while working, Abhilasha emphasizes the significance of time management. She advises aspirants to start early, focus on all exam stages (Prelims, Mains, and Interview), and watch topper interviews to formulate effective strategies.

For interview preparation, she stresses thorough readiness and recommends utilizing weekends and office downtime for studies. Abhilasha advocates leveraging technology, such as phone-based learning during commutes. Emphasizing personal commitment over external opinions, she underscores the importance of self-discipline and staying true to one's goals for achieving dreams.